The peculiar error of Synodical Conference Enthusiasm is Universal Objective Justification.
No one can bridge the gap between the Biblical concept of justification by faith and the Pietistic mistake of UOJ.
The UOJ Enthusiasts try to merge the two, without success. Long ago, J. Michael Reu pointed out one of the symptoms of unionism - forcing an agreement when none exists.
After the UOJ Stormtroopers pound on justification by faith for a few hours, they take a break and add, "but you gotta believe it." They call this justification by faith, which is nothing more than faith in the power of unbelief, since all unbelievers are forgiven and saved - even before birth.
The proponents of UOJ were clever, but I am still shocked that few saw the knee-slap-worthy errors. For example, the great essay by that "orthodox Lutheran" who became a papist was called The Justification of the Sinner Before God.
The title should be The Absolution of All Unbelievers in the World. That is clearly the content of the small book. E. Preuss had this statement:
"So, then, we are reconciled; however, not only we, but also Hindus, and Hottentots and Kafirs, yes, the world. 'Reconciled', says our translation; the Greek original says: 'placed in the right relation to God'. Because before the Fall we, together with the whole creation, were in the right relation to God, therefore Scripture teaches that Christ, through His death, restored all things to the former right relation to God."
F. R. Eduard Preuss, 1834-1904, Die Rechtfertigung der Suender vor Gott. Rick Nicholas Curia, The Significant History of the Doctrine of Objective or Universal Justification, Alpine, California: California Pastoral Conference, WELS. January 24-25, 1983. p. 24.
In another statement, above, quoted by Robert Preus with approval, E. Preuss wrote about being forgiven before birth. There are other E. Preuss statements that clash with this bizarre UOJ notion, statements closer to Luther and the Book of Concord.
Apparently, the Age of Pietism was so enamored of this Easter absolution of the world nonsense that the theologians and editors say no conflict between granting forgiveness and salvation to everyone while also stating that the Means of Grace were necessary.
This double-talk has continued, with the LCMS Justification Theses published to dishonor the Reformation, in many of the LCMS publications (but not all), and now in virtually all of the ELS/WELS publications, especially the Murdoch NNIV.
The current teaching of UOJ began with Samuel Huber, a "former" Calvinist, who was repudiated by the Wittenberg faculty, including Chemnitz biographer and Book of Concord editor P. Leyser.
Pietism revived this dogma of universal forgiveness and salvation, and the founder of the Missouri Synod, syphlitic sex fiend Martin Stephan, STD, taught what he learned from Halle University to CFW Walther, his minion and enforcer.
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| Jeff Gunn, Ski, and Glenda say, "Yes!" And SP Schroder approves. |
